Mechanics, not electricians, reset the malfunctioning pump on Dreamworld ride

Engineers, not electricians, reset the drive to a malfunctioning pump on a Dreamworld attraction shortly before the ride broke down again and four people died, theinquest has heard.

The inquest into the deaths of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi at Southport Coroners Court heard today from the mechanic who fixed a faulty water pump about an hour before the tragedy occurred.

The inquest heard Mark Gordon, who is a mechanical engineer, not an electrical engineer, was shown by a park electrician how to reset the pump's drive after the first malfunction on October 25.

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The ride had malfunctioned at least five times in the week before the tragedy.

The water levels dropped after a pump failed, leaving an empty raft stranded on rails on the conveyor belt. The next raft to come along hit it, and flipped, tipping four people into the conveyor belt mechanism. Picture: 9NEWS (9NEWS)

Dreamworld today issued a statement acknowledging the "shocking and deeply concerning evidence" that has been presented over the past two weeks.

“Dreamworld is profoundly sorry this tragedy occurred," the statement said.

“We acknowledge that shocking and deeply concerning evidence has been presented at the coronial inquest.

“We know this has been a very harrowing time for all, particularly the victims’ families."

"No, I wouldn't show them because they don't have experience on drives on the electric side of things," Mr Dennis said.

Quentin Dennis (right) arrives at the inquest. Picture: AAP (AAP)

Engineering supervisor Peter Gardner told the inquest the ride malfunctioned on October 19, 22, 23 and twice on the 25th before the fatal incident.

Dreamworld's breakdown procedure was for a ride to be shut down and a supervisor notified if the same fault occurred in a 24-hour period.

Mr Gordon said he believed a fault only had to be "escalated" if it happened three times in a day.

Mr Gardner told the inquest the ride should have been shut down after the second pump failure.

Counsel assisting the coroner Ken Fleming QC asked Mr Gardner how many times a ride had to break down before someone says "enough is enough".

Counsel assisting the Coroner Ken Fleming. Picture: AAP (AAP)

"Before a review is taken, it's twice ... twice in the same day," Mr Gardner replied.

"Under your policy that ride should not have been in service should it?" Mr Fleming asked Mr Gardner.

"No, it shouldn't," he replied.

Untidy wiring, described by an expert as a "rat's nest" with the potential for serious malfunction, was shown to the inquest.

"It's not a particularly high standard ... the wiring is not very tidy," Mr Gardner told the inquest.

"I would have raised that as an issue (had I known)."

The inquest heard on Thursday from park electricians that they had mentioned their concerns about the wiring "multiple times" and believed the control panel was due to be upgraded before the tragedy.

Mr Dennis told the inquest he wouldn't let a mechanic reset a ride's pump, as happened on the day of the tragedy when the ride's south pump failed twice before a third malfunction contributed to the fatal incident.

"No, I wouldn't show them because they don't have experience on drives on the electric side of things," Mr Dennis said.

Mr Gardner said however he could foresee a situation where a mechanic may reset a switch if electrical staff were unavailable.

Mr Dennis also expressed surprise when he was informed an emergency stop button on the ride's control panel only stopped the ride's pump and not the conveyor.

He said in his knowledge the control panel button should have shut down the ride completely.

The Thunder River Rapids ride. (9News)

He agreed it would be of concern to learn the main ride operator had no means within their reach to stop the conveyor beyond a "slow stop" button which could take up to nine seconds to halt the attraction.

There's doubt over whether a conveyor shut-down button on the main control panel, which took approximately nine seconds to stop the ride, was pressed during the October 25, 2016 tragedy.

The inquest, which adjourns today, will resume in October with a further two-week hearing.

A third two-week block has been scheduled for November.

"There are facts that are yet to be brought out about the nature of the rides," Mr Fleming said.

"We've talked about Australian standards and the like, none of that has come into discussion yet but all that is yet to come."

DREAMWORLD FULL STATEMENT

Dreamworld is profoundly sorry this tragedy occurred.

We acknowledge that shocking and deeply concerning evidence has been presented at the coronial inquest.

We know this has been a very harrowing time for all, particularly the victims’ families.

We are sorry that they have had to relive the trauma of that terrible day in October, 2016.

Courtney Williams was only trained on the ride the day of the tragedy. Picture: AAP (AAP)

We apologise to our former and current staff who have also been affected by this tragedy, some of whom have endured significant time as witnesses reliving the accident. We thank them for doing their best to assist the Coroner.

The coronial inquest is not yet completed. Dreamworld remains committed to participating in it and learning all we can to ensure that such tragic accidents are not repeated.